Though having drivers that consider traffic rules as mere suggestions is part of the problem, it is overly simplistic, foolish even, to lump it all to that fact as the cause of the ever character-building congestion in Metro Manila.
If one will take out all the politics and simply look at facts, the situation becomes clearer. But it is still not easy. It stays difficult. Challenging.
Metro Manila's congestion is unique.
Metro Manila belongs to the top 3 most densely populated area in the world. Which means, our everyday commute is not experienced anywhere in the world. Except maybe for the other two ;- )
If you are from Novaliches and are working in Ayala, that's 27 kilometers. And since we are talking about work, one will always experience the 'rush hour' commute everyday of the work week. A rush hour that really means 2-3 hours of commute, one-way.
Now, the top 1 of the most densely populated city is Tokyo, Japan but they don't have our congestion problems and our 'eternal' commute because they have their railway system. But to say that, we should improved our railways is too simplistic. A railway is an immediate and innovative solution probably during the turn to the 20th century but not in this millennia. True, railways move the most people but it is very capital intensive. Only corrupt politicians love and jump over capital intensive projects :- )
Trains is a fix solution to an ever evolving situation, problem. Think. Have you ever wondered why we have railways to Bicol? What was happening between Bicol and Manila in the past that necessitated a railway? What changed that operating trains now needs some creativity to make it economically viable? Is it, still, economically viable?
Automatically saying trains is the answer is like buying a mainframe today where other options (e.g. cloud computing) are available. Trains could be part of the solution but it is not the only solution.
Which brings us to the very heart of our commuting life. Before we even talked about solutions, what do we think is the problem?
The undisciplined drivers? (I thought we shot that down already.) The commission-based pay of drivers? The corrupt politicians? The inept civil servants who was supposed to do a technical study? The drug-crazed bus drivers? The over-reliance from foreign consultants who in the end will only push for their native country's technology? Or the fact that the financial centers like Ayala, Ortigas and BGC is far from Novaliches, from Lagro, from Paranaque, from Antipolo, from Laguna and from Cavite? The non-existent land use law? Capacity and demand mismatch? The uncontrolled private-led development? All of the above? None of the above?
How we frame the problem drives the solution we set.
"...why think like mere men?"
